- Apr 30, 2011
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- Apr 10, 2019
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“I failed the father, but I will not fail the son.”
Congrats to Stites on getting a European contract.
So far, it would be unreasonable to suggest that he was ready for the WT.
Getting American talent is difficult when your budget is substantially less than Inoes.
As far as Vaughters, I don't see a lot of tweets on X in recent years, let alone self-promotion. (Not sure what you are referring to)
- Feb 20, 2010
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It will take a lot of tail-tucked-between-the-legs to erase the decade of shameless hypocrisy and self-promotion that preceded it though.
He just has adjusted his stance to recognise a few things:
1) far fewer people are buying his snake oil anymore so he has to sell it in different ways (he used to have a huge number of acolytes across cycling discussion boards back in the early days of the team and in the era between Lance's Comeback 2.0 and the Reasoned Decision, who would take his word as gospel and believe him to be some benevolent sage who only wanted what was best for the sport, which coincidentally would always coincide with what was best for him);
2) he doesn't have to push the "cycling is clean now, especially my team even though it has lots of dopers in it" narrative anything like as aggressively now the péloton is not filled with Bassos and Valverdes whose dirty laundry is already public knowledge front and centre;
3) his "I would quit the sport if any of my riders ever tested positive" narrative that he pushed so aggressively would come back to bite him if he kept pushing it when his riders are about the only ones still testing positive - even if usually for stuff they've done before he's signed them.
He has also managed somehow - and this is something that is genuinely impressive, no joke - to maintain overall control of the team through a minimum of two mergers of WT level teams despite his team being the smaller of the two in both mergers (with Cervélo and with Liquigas-Cannondale), as well as killing another ProConti team (Drapac) by persuading its sponsors to drop them mid-season to join his team and bail his squad out.
However, he also, in the Cervélo merger, acquired the strongest and most successful women's team in the world, and promptly dismantled it within a year so that he could steal its funds and use them to sign Thomas Dekker off of a doping ban, outed his own riders as dopers on social media (including on this very forum) and then tried to paint himself as a progressive visionary of the future for women's cycling because the UCI halted the growth of his beloved Hammer Series, because he has aggressively pushed any and all changes that lock the top division off and hand guarantees to teams, because he grew his team from the lower divisions to reach the top tier, and he's terrified that if anybody else is allowed to do that, his team might be the one that gets pushed out, so he wants to gatekeep the top division.
There are nevertheless a fair few good things that Jonathan Vaughters has done for cycling, but the amount of bad things he's done, plus his smug, sanctimonious attitude about those good things he's done, mean that a lot of people have a hard time really buying the image of Vaughters that he likes to project, as some benevolent force for good in the sport.
Stites has had two good seasons at the Conti level where he's won or podiumed some decent races and while he will need to improve to show he's WT material, he's definitely earned a ProConti team run-out. I wish him all the best with the opportunity. Caja Rural have a decent but unspectacular track record for development, given he's 26 already time will tell, but he's been successful across enough places over a couple of seasons for me to hope that he won't be a Danilo Celano.
- Sep 4, 2017
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Watch him any time he appears on Eurosport/Discovery+ in the studio. Then you will understand.
- Nov 16, 2013
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Has this question been answered satisfactorily now?
- Apr 13, 2021
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Pablo castillo I owe you an apology. I wasnt familiar with your game!
- Aug 29, 2009
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looking forward to see him on the Asia Tour! Here's a bit about it from his Instagram:
"After 17 years in the Champions League @Worldtour , it’s time for me to say « au revoir. » I feel, level here is too high for me and my body getting weaker with age, I have been following the same program for too long. It’s no longer interesting, and I don’t feel excited about this game anymore. I still love cycling, and quitting completely is not an option. I am still young enough to enjoy cycling for a few more years. I have been dreaming about the asian tour for several years now—a different racing program, new strategies, diverse cultures, and new goals. Thinking about it excites me again. So, it’s time to explore and find new motivation in a different environment, enjoy cycling life 100%…. Thank you for welcoming my Japanese 🇯🇵@kinanracingteam ❤️❤️❤️
I’ve had a wonderful 17-year career in the WT. I’ve won some races and lost most of them, participated in all kinds of events, and met many people along the way. I’ve seen different teams and eras. I am happy to move on with a smile and contentment. Thank you to everyone I’ve met and to all the teams I’ve been a part of. Good luck to everyone. From the bottom of my heart, I am deeply thankful. Let the new adventure begin in 2025!"
Let's see if de Gendt gets on board as well.
- Nov 16, 2013
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Fair enough. He never reached the peaks that were promised from his incredible first couple of years.
Are there any news regarding RedBull and Widar? I find it very interesting where all those talents land in the end.If there's actually a release clause of only 25000 dollars Lotto has nothing to say (and they honestly shouldve never signed him in the first place imo if that kind of release clause was needed).
Also like I said, Bora was talking to Widar (or his agents) before Avenir, so before it went wrong, and before the tantrum. Of course it could be that something already was going on behind the scenes (haven't heard anything but could be) but this sounds more like Widar complaining in the press on purpose so people won't blame him for leaving.
Also what sponsors?
- Sep 2, 2011
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Aaron Gate gets his shot in the WT (Astana)
www.astana-qazaqstan.com
Aaron Gate signs agreement with Astana Qazaqstan Team - Astana - Qazaqstan
The current New Zealand Road Race Champion, Oceania Time Trial Champion and recent winner of the Tour of Hainan, Aaron Gate (33), has signed a one-year contract with the World Tour team Astana Qazaqstan Team for the 2025 season. Aaron […]
www.astana-qazaqstan.com
- May 5, 2010
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I think what you meant to write is that he's opened the Gate for the WT.
Lidl-Trek signs Søren Kragh Andersen through 2026 | Trek Race Shop
The home of Trek Factory Racing, and all the Trek programs. Whether its road, XC, enduro, downhill, freeride, cyclocross or triathlon, you’ll find a Trek athlete, racing for the win.
racing.trekbikes.com
- Aug 31, 2019
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Gate can score a sh*tload of points for Astana with the right calendar.
- Jul 15, 2024
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This is a surprise to me, as his contract ran out 2026 with Visma. Not had a good season, but it's not been a complete car crash so I'm surprise Visma is giving up on him already. I'm always a bit "meh" about foreign riders chosing French teams, probably I have bought into the view that French teams are a bit old fashion and behind on many things, but Ag2r have been good this year.
One can also say that this maybe was a missed opportunity for Uno-X, but there have been quite a few negative comments from Staune-Mittet and his father towards Uno-X ever since he decided to go with Jumbo.
- May 6, 2021
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- Apr 13, 2021
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Ineos genuinely have one of the most underrated teams for 2025 , they get hated a lot for their decline, but I think they have a lot of exciting riders if you ignore their 2011-2021 history as a GT machine
- Aug 31, 2019
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With Laurance Ineos now have 29 riders, so I assume they are full with Castrillo being announced soon.
They are down to only 7 British riders. The lowest number ever?
They are down to only 7 British riders. The lowest number ever?
Not that they're always clued up, but the most recent Watts Occurring episode, G and Rowe were talking about how he had been linked to the team but had not actually put pen to paper and perhaps the team would regret that. I guess we will need to wait and see, otherwise there could be a good opportunity for another team to nip in
https://www.marca.com/ciclismo/2024/09/02/66d5906ae2704e1d4a8b459e.html Marca confirm there are now a few teams in the Castrillo sweepstakes
- Feb 20, 2010
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"With the right calendar" being a euphemism for "on the Asia Tour".
- Apr 13, 2021
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Movistar is looking to sign him. The next Luis Leon?
View: https://x.com/Biarnes72/status/1830562513005539379?t=2CQwpjdHakiUe765-26CVw&s=19
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